Outside the U.S. and Alarmed? How You Can Help
If you're a reader of this blog outside the U.S., a list of ways you can support people fighting for democracy in the U.S.
Religion, Historical Fiction, and the American Pope
Portraying Catholic characters and the Catholic Church in my historical fiction in the context of the American prelate Leo XIV's election as the new pope.
Paying for Our Own Oppression
At tax time, reflections on a Chilean duo that also resisted a dictatorship.
A Creative Crisis
Deciding to write a different kind of historical novel in the face of a more repressive environment, but not giving up my commitment to social justice.
Publishers Speak Out Against Book Bans
A creative effort by one of my publishers to raise money and awareness to fight book bans as well as attacks on authors and freedom of expression.
Some Thoughts on the Publishing Crisis, Part IV: Surviving the Drought
The final essay in the series discusses how to stay creative during the current publishing crisis and sometimes staying creative means taking a break.
Wanted: School Visits
Now that I have four recently published books and pandemic restrictions are coming to an end, I'm starting to look for school visits. In the years following the publication of…
Me Versus the Spanish Teacher
Republication of an essay in YARN about the role a Spanish teacher played in my writing and translating life.
Announcing Work in Progress Awards!
Using my experience with Gringolandia, I encourage SCBWI members to apply for the Work-in-Progress Awards that open for submission every year in March.
“Burn It All Down”
The scene in my novel where I burn it all down and show boys doing the right thing.